Best Backpacking Tent

In this article, I would be going over a few tips and tricks you should have up your sleeve when choosing the best backpacking tent for your next hike, and a few options you can consider depending on your budget, weight-carrying capacity, the room you require from your tent and the quality and durability of the tent itself.

Apart from sleeping in, they are effective in protecting you against bad weather, wild animals and insects, and even for cooking small meals and reading under starry skies.

A Little Background

Everyone loves to get out from the hustle and bustle of the cities, to open spaces, sandy beaches and windy mountains. But travelling is at its absolute best when you get off the usual trails, make your own way and go where no one has gone before.

This is where an awesome tent comes into picture.

A backpacking tent is exactly what it sounds like. It means not just a regular tent, but a collapsible shelter, that can fit in your travel pack and be carried around easily. A simple backpacking tent is nothing more than a clever construction of canvas stretched over metal poles and fastened to the ground using ropes and screws, like the Eleoption lightweight tarp shelter.

If you have a sturdy backpacking tent, you can literally set up camp wherever you like. No more looking for expensive hotels and planning only day-trips. With a tent, you can explore freely and enjoy a full night’s sleep after a long tiring hike. What’s more, you get the opportunity of waking up to gorgeous views first thing in the morning.

An all-round backpacking tent will make all this - and more - possible.

Now, I sincerely hope the dreams of creating new trails and being the first person to catch that golden light at the peak have convinced you into buying the best tent for yourself. Let us take a look at the factors to keep in mind when choosing a new tent.

What to consider when buying a new tent?

There are many things that go into a tent, and because there are thousands of models available, choosing one tent is tough. Moreover, everyone’s priorities are different. At the end of the day, you yourself have to decide which factor to give the most importance to. Nevertheless, to make things a bit simpler, here are a few criteria to help you in choosing the best backpacking tent.

Weight

This one is fairly obvious. The heavier your tent, the more tiring your journey. Trust me, every ounce you save will double your comfort during the trip. I remember taking my Dad’s 4 kg tent on one of my earliest hikes, and ending up hating everything about the trip. It was only later I realized that I was annoyed because of the weight of my pack, which made my back hurt like hell.

A general rule of thumb is that a tent designed for sheltering 1 person should be around 1 kilogram, while a 2-person tent should be around 1.5 kg.

The weight of the fabric used in a tent is expressed in ‘denier’ (D). The lighter tents will use fabrics of about 10D, while the all-weather expedition bags go into 500-1000 D.

The new standard for best backpacking tents is ‘ultralight.’ Generally, backpacking tents have their own dedicated poles, but this new category of ultralight tents use trekking poles or other light materials for being set up. If your hiking style involves more walking and spending less time in the tent, an ultralight tent will best suit your needs. With improved design and reasonable costs, many campers and hikers are now opting for an ultralight tent like the Big Agnes HV UL2 - which saves weight while providing protection.

Space

Even this criteria is a matter of compromise when buying the best tent for yourself. Do you go for a bigger and heavier tent with space for your family - like the Coleman 6-person tent - or a smaller tent for solo trips that is comfortable to carry around ?

The two measurements you have to take into account are length (for being able to easily straighten your legs) and height (so that you can at least partially sit up inside). Usually, the height of whatever backpacking tent you choose should be at least around 35 inches, while the length - for an average adult - should be at least 70 inches or more. These specifications will give you quite some space to wait out a storm, while also not being claustrophobic.

Fabric used

Backpacking tents use different materials, all of which affect durability, weight and price. Here, I will talk about the 3 most commonly used fabrics. Even before you begin reading this part, I would advise you that you consider only the last 2 fabrics for your tents, especially if your travels get a little rough. The first category of fabrics should be your last resort, but it will work well for backyard camping and other pleasant family trips.

PU Coated

Polyurethane coated fabrics are the best budget choice for inexpensive backpacking tents. Often used to make any fabric waterproof and provide it with some amount of durability in harsh weather, PU coated fabrics are cheap and very light.

The drawback to this jack-of-all-trades fabric is that in tropics-like conditions, this fabric is susceptible to chemical tear (hydrolysis). The fabric starts to get sticky and tangled - think a spider’s web - and might even start to flake off.

If you absolutely need to save money and don’t need the best highly weather-resistant tent, you can look at PU coated fabrics. Although, I would advise that you at least look for fabrics with PU coating of polyether, rather than urethane. This coating will be more resistant to hydrolysis.

SilNylon

Silicone coated nylon is a more serious choice. Used on almost all the best and more expensive tents, this fabric is very durable and highly waterproof. It also has the added benefit of being slippery, which means it will be better for wintery conditions. The snow will slide very easily off of SilNylon tents.

The drawback of SilNylon is that it is more expensive than PU coated backpacking tents. Also, because it is difficult to make things stick to SilNylon fabric, manufacturers use nylon that has silicone on the outside - which cannot be factory taped - and PU on the inside - which can be taped. This PU-SilNylon combination is found mainly on the best and highest quality backpacking tents. Another thing, SilNylon is flexible and sags according to weather, which means your guylines will have to be adjusted more often. However, I have never found the need to readjust to be very frequent or that annoying.

Double-sided silicone coated fabrics are even better. They will provide more strength and weather-resistance to your backpacking tent, although they cannot be repaired using duct tape - a feature I believe every fabric should have. You will have to go for stitching or silicone bonding. But this is just nitpicking. You probably won’t even tear your SilNylon backpacking tent. So no need to worry about duct tape!

Dyneema

Dyneema, or Cuben fiber, is the futuristic fabric manufactured by DSM, which might find a place in Batman’s suit. It is amazingly light, highly durable and the most waterproof fabric yet. No wonder I believe it to be the best backpacking tent fabric made. The dyneema threads are sewn together with UV-resistant mylar threads, which makes it even stronger than Kevlar. Dyneema was even used for a 30 km long tether in a Russian satellite!

Apart from being lightweight and durable, Dyneema does not stretch, which means no frequent readjusting of your backpacking tent’s guylines. Also, it can be easily fixed using duct tape, although the likelihood of you needing to repair a dyneema backpacking tent are too low to be significant.

As might be obvious, the gains you get are enormous, and so is the price tag. Tents made with Cuben fiber are four to five times more expensive than SilNylon ones. Also, because it does not stretch, you cannot always force it tight if pitching conditions are bad, unlike the flexible PU fabrics. Moreover, it is more prone to a puncture (not to tearing). Another thing you should keep in mind, dyneema is less slippery, so it may not be ideal for cleaning up the deposited snow.

Dyneema might be expensive, but I believe that if your camping is of the extreme kind, the payoff will be great. The probability of puncture and snow deposit and not being able to fix it sub-optimal conditions are not of much consequence. Ultimately, it will be a question of saving weight with dyneema or saving money with SilNylon for your next backpacking tent.

Freestanding or Non-freestanding backpacking tent

Freestanding backpacking tents are exactly what they sound like. These tents have their own framework of poles and rods to stand upright. Although you may attach stakes and guylines for additional stability, you do not always need them.

The benefit of freestanding backpacking tents are first and foremost their ease of setup. Let the surface be soft soil or hard rocks, where stakes do not hold, these tents will get erected without extra support. Also, because freestanding tents have their own metal poles, they are stable even against harsh weather, where low-quality stakes might get disturbed. Even better, the lack of guylines and stakes and ropes means that you can set your backpacking tent up quickly and easily, without having to carry their extra weight.

Non-freestanding backpacking tents are also great, especially for beginners. As might be obvious, they require external support through guylines and stakes. You can also use your trekking poles instead of having poles specifically made for the tent. The major advantage of such backpacking tents is their weight. Due to absence of their own metal frames, they are very compact and portable. Also, they are quite cheap, as it is basically only the backpacking tent fabric you are paying for.

Best All-rounder Backpacking Tent for Higher Budget

MSR HUBBA HUBBA

Before I begin talking about this backpacking tent, let me tell you that it is quite expensive. But I will also tell you that it is worth it. There are cheaper options in the market, but I personally believe that this is hands-down one of the best you can get. The price is justified because of the lifetime warranty you get with an MSR backpacking tent!

The MSR Hubba Hubba NX is a great 2-person tent, and very compact and portable. It is easy to setup too, and because it has 2 doors, you can go in and out of the tent without having to crawl over your travel mate and disturb their sleep.

It is a freestanding design, but not fully. The backpacking tent requires a couple of poles on one end to stand up properly. Once you do set it up, it is amazingly roomy. I tried this tent out on one of my hikes, and weighing at about 3.5 pounds, it started to feel heavy after a while, although the comfort at night made the weight worthwhile. If you are going to be sharing the tent and its weight with your partner during your travels, you won't even notice the weight.

Setting up the MSR Hubba Hubba NX

The backpacking tent comes with a segmented pole that unfolds to form the external frame of the tent. The tips of the tent pole easily slip into holes designed in the guyline itself, which form a curved arch. You can attach the inner tent to the frames using plastic clips that come attached with the tent.

What's even better – if you need to read the instructions for setting up the backpacking tent, no need to worry. The instruction booklet comes attached to the sack the tent comes in, so you can't lose that!

The outer fly covers the whole tent, and comes with color-coded corners so that you match the right corner in the right orientation. The corners of the fly too have clips which fit over the pole ends. You can even set-up the fly first using the clip system, and pitch the tent later inside it.

The Hubba Hubba NX is not fully freestanding because you will require at least 2 stakes for the vestibules. Also, the vestibules have zippers along the sides, rather than the middle, which makes it even easier to move in and out of the tent.

Space and Comfort

For one person, this backpacking tent is a palace. Although, if it is 2 people inside the tent, it might get a tiny bit stuffy, especially if you are using sleeping bags of around 30 inches width. This tight fit becomes an inconvenience only if both you and your partner are using very wide bags, which I think will be rare.

The MSR Hubba Hubba has a height of almost 40 inches, which makes it spacious enough to sit up in. The length is around 84 inches, although after pitching it tight, the usable length might be only 82 inches. The width is almost 50 inches, which is why wide sleeping bags might bulge out the sides of the tent. But all in all, I don’t think this backpacking tent will come in the way of your comfort.

The interior length of the tent is enough to let you sleep comfortably, while also leaving some space at the ends for your gear and a comfy pillow. There is also an interior mesh pocket along the width of the tent for storage.

The vestibules at the sides of the Hubba Hubba NX are quite large, and even your bigger capacity bags will fit inside without blocking the doors. Keeping the vestibule doors and the window vents open provides plenty of ventilation and light. Also, because of the external framework style of the tent, the rain fly is kept separate from the inner side of the backpacking tent, which means less dampness and minimal moisture in rainy weather.

Pros

Lifetime warranty of MSR

Easy to set up

Two doors and zippers at the sides for easily going in and out

Comfortable height and length, especially with the 20” sleeping bags

Very light and portable

Cons

Expensive

Could have provided some more pockets

More on the heavy side if weight of the tent is not shared.

Best Cheap Backpacking Tent

REI CO-OP PASSAGE 2

With a price tag of a little more than $100, this backpacking tent is for people who are on a strict budget and don't mind a heavy tent for short journeys, like summer camping trips or just backyard camping. The Rei Passage 2 might seem like a compromise, but its shortcomings are not something unbearable for such a low price.

Overall, it will do well, but you should not expect the tent to last in very rough weather continuously, as it is uses PU material which is liable for degradation. Moreover, the non-branded poles that come with the backpacking tent are quite frail and won't withstand heavy rains, and unless you buy some guylines (none comes with the tent), you might get some splash-back from the sides. Let me save you some time and tell you that the Rei Co-op Passage 2 is your tent if you are camp infrequently and are simply looking for a roomy and inexpensive option.

Setting up the Rei Passage 2

Setting up the tent is a very simple task. All you have to do is get the X-shaped cross frames up and stake out the side doors. Almost all tents have at least one other step to be taken to get the tent right. The advantage of such a simple X-design is that the backpacking tent becomes very easy to shift. The freestanding design can be easily picked up and moved around if you don't find the place where you have setup to be comfortable.

Once packed up, the backpacking tent gets quite heavy for a long solo journey. Weighing in at about 5 pounds, you will find it difficult to carry. The Rei Passage 2 has some sort of a nylon mesh paneling which helps in keeping condensation to a minimum but contributes to the weight. Ultimately, it will be a trade-off between the weight you want to carry and the money you want to save.

Space and Comfort

Even though it might be heavy and not very durable, the Rei Co-op Passage 2 should be more than simply comfortable for 2 people. The floor dimensions are 88 x 52 in, which should be sufficient for you and your partner, assuming that there is not a lot of luggage to store.

The peak height of the tent is 40 in, which means a person of average height should easily be able to sit up inside the tent.

The Passage 2 has plenty of space in its vestibules too, with the total area being 18 sq feet., which should easily hide all your packs and boots from the rain. The fly has vents which “pop”out for extra ventilation.

The one thing which bothered me in this backpacking tent were its pockets and the rather large zippers of the vestibule. The pockets are triangle-shaped, with only one corner attached to the corner of the tent, which meant that the pocket could not handle the weight of the stuff I put in and everything kept sliding out. The big zippers make using the door silently a bit difficult, and there is a chance of you disturbing your partner.

One tip I would give for users of this tent is that you should always camp at places sheltered from high winds, as the poles do not seem like they would be able to handle much force. Also, be careful of getting the PU fabric inside wet, because they might tear with rough use and start feeling sticky when sleeping.

It might seem like I am not in favour of this tent much, but do not get me wrong. The Rei Passage 2 is suitable if you know what you will be getting. It is the best backpacking tent for people on a tight budget, who don't mind the extra weight and go for trips that do not require the toughest of the tough.

Pros

Very cheap

Quite roomy

Freestanding design very easy to set up

Cons

Not very durable

The poles do not inspire much confidence

Pockets are not suitable for storage of items bigger than your phone or a pocket-diary

Best Lightweight Backpacking Tent for Long Trips

NEMO HORNET 2P or 1P

The Nemo Hornet backpacking tent is an exciting choice because of its ultra light 2 pound weight, 2 doors and vestibules, with a freestanding design. Actually, I should mention that the Hornet is more of a semi-freestanding design, because you will have to stake out one end to maximize the interior space for 2 people.

Although there has been a little bit of compromise on the interior space in the 2-person model, the Nemo Hornet is amazingly good for long solo trips. It might get a little stuffy for 2 people, but as long as you do not have to spend much time inside, it is not something to be worried about. In a nutshell, Nemo has managed an excellent balance of weight, comfort and durability. The one downside is the price which, at around $350, gets a little steep.

Setting up the Nemo Hornet

Even with one person, setting up the tent is extremely easy, thanks to the single hubbed pole. The NFL light Y-frame aluminum pole gets attached to the tent via a ball-and-socket system. The single end of the Y-frame slides into an eyelet sort of opening at the foot end of the tent, completing the Y-frame over which the canopy can be hung. The system is easy and surprisingly sturdy.

Space and comfort

As I mentioned before, the Hornet is a tight fit for 2 persons, although the 2 doors at the sides give some amount of relief. The floor space is 28 sq feet and the inner tent is tapered to be a little wider at the head and narrower at the feet. So, if you and your partner are sleeping in opposite directions – toe-to-head style – one of you will be getting slightly less space. This is why I suggest this tent as a better solo tent.

At the center, the peak height of the tent is 40 in, with the floor dimensions being 85 x 51 in. This means that only one person will get to sit upright properly in the tent, and sleeping bags wider than 20 in might get uncomfortable. But such dimensions are needed to make the tent ultra lightweight.

Even though the tent uses thin fabrics to keep the weight down, it is very sturdy against bad weather. At a glance, I thought the thin poles won't hold, but they did. The rain fly does not provide complete coverage at the head-end, but the raised bathtub floor and high quality seams with waterproofing provide sufficient protection.

A minor but pleasant surprise is the ventilation the Nemo Hornet provides. The raised section of the fly, coupled with lots of mesh and a big gap between the tent and fly, provided lots of ventilation and kept condensation to a minimum. This makes the Hornet a great backpacking tent, especially for humid environments.

Pros

Very very light

2 doors are very convenient

Easy to set up and the lightweight pole system is sturdy

Excellent ventilation

Cons

A but more than snug for 2 people

Less space at the foot-end of the tent

Not truly freestanding

Tips for Taking Care of your Backpacking Tent

Now that you have a tent, it is super important to know how to ensure it stays usable for years.

Just like your home, even your tent will require a basic amount of cleaning. A well-treated tent will give you back more than what you had paid for it, not to mention the tension-free comfort you will have when waiting out rough weather.

Here are a few tips to make sure your tent lasts you years of usage:

Storage

This is the one rule you must follow. Never store a backpacking tent which has not fully dried. Fabric coatings will degrade faster if it is left wet. What's even worse is that a damp surface will attract mold and fungi, which will lead to even faster breaking up of tent fabric and terrible smell.

It is always recommended that you dry your tent before packing it up in your sack, and dry it again once you reach home. Also, I would advise that you take the time to properly fold up your tent for packing, and not simply stuff it in randomly. A nice loose bag – something like a pillowcase – will be best for long-term storage of your tent.

Setting up the tent

You should always try to avoid setting up in places with lots of rocks and stones and sticks, as the chances of puncturing the tent are high. Although you should clear up your campsite a bit before setting up, do not disturb the whole place. Always respect the natural surroundings.

A good place to set up your backpacking tent will be on a flat patch of dry grass, gravel or snow, somewhere away from an established trail. One of the most important things is to avoid camping near water bodies, because you may be disturbing the wildlife present, and may also increase the risk of contamination of water.

For protecting your tent and yourself, do not just think about the site, but also the surroundings. Camping at the bottom of a valley will mean that the air will be colder, condensation will increase and there will be a risk of sudden flooding or snow. You should also make sure you are not near animal habitats and away from places where there is a chance of landslides or avalanches.

Using the tent

You should avoid leaving out your tent exposed to direct sunlight for long periods. I have come close to losing a tent myself, because I camped in a place without shade. Extended exposure to sunlight damages the tent fabric and the fly. Using a polyester fly might be better, as polyester is more UV resistant than nylon fabric.

Forget storms, one of the most annoying things ever is a jammed zipper. Everyone feels like just tearing out the whole thing. But try and remain calm in face of an irritating zipper.

If the zipper is stuck, pull and straighten the other end with one hand and pull the slider back a bit with the other. Now if you slowly try to move the slider ahead, you will find that it almost always works. Also, make sure there is no fabric or dirt stuck inside as that may block the slider. If the zipper keeps getting split, you can use a plier to slightly tighten the slider and make sure it holds.

I know this will sound something like your mom would say. But I need to say it. Leave your shoes and dirty bags outside. You want to avoid everything that might introduce dirt, stones and mud inside your new backpacking tent and increase the chances of a puncture, or worse, dirty smell.

Camping in the wild means you will be close to nature, but you should not invite the wildlife into your tent by leaving food and fragrant products outside your bag. Always keep food articles and personal belongings in a secure container like the Imper dry bag.

Packing up your tent

Before you begin packing up your tent, you should make sure there is no snow or pebbles or twigs lying on the tent or the fly. Give your tent a good shake so that anything that might poke your tent fabric is dusted off before rolling it up.

Whenever you are breaking down your backpacking tent poles, make sure you start from the middle. Keep doing this for every half section. This will ensure that there is no excess tension on the cord.

Just a reminder again, do not forget to dry your tent before packing it. If at all you cannot dry the tent before packing it, make sure you store it in a separate bag and dry it as soon as you get back home.

Cleaning your tent

I know it is boring. But it has to be done. Cleaning your tent as soon as you get back from a trip will mean more comfort for your next one.

You should not machine-wash your backpacking tent, as that may damage the fabric and seams of the tent. Instead, take a bucket of cold water, a soft brush and some non-detergent soap for your cleaning. Smooth out the tent and gently scrub away. You should avoid any harsh chemicals like laundry detergent and bleach, as it might damage the water-repellent coating of the fabric.

If you notice any weird mud-like smell or discoloration on the tent, chances are that mold and mildew have started growing on the fabric. For dealing with this, you can use an enzyme cleaner or sanitizer will do just fine. Just make sure you rinse everything off after cleaning and let the tentto kill the growth. Check whether the cleaner is suitable for the fabric of your tent or not and follow only the instructions given.

For other small annoyances like bird droppings or tree sap, a basic cleaning with wet wipes or sanitizer will do just fine. Just make sure you rinse everything off after cleaning and let the tent dry.

Re-waterproofing the tent

Almost all good quality backpacking tents come with already-sealed seams, but even these seams might come off with normal wear and tear. For sealing the parts where the seams have come off, you can use a seam-sealer on the outside of the fabric for re-sealing.

You should also check the fly and the floor of the tent regularly from the inside. If it starts to peel, you can remove the flakes with gentle cleaning, then apply some paint-on polyurethane sealant.

These are very important, and as a responsible camper, you should ensure that you follow these general guidelines to ensure that your camping is safe, responsible and does not harm the environment. The seven LNT principles are:

Plan ahead and prepare. Visit in small groups and avoid times of high use. Also, make sure you have maps and a compass so that need for rock markings or flags is eliminated.

Camp on durable grounds like rock, gravel, snow or dry grass. Do not alter the site in order to “create” a campsite and keep your campsite small and away from water bodies.

Dispose of waste properly. Use only mild biodegradable soaps in small amounts, away from lakes and streams for washing. Deposit solid human waste in catholes away from the trail, water and campsites.

Leave what you find. Do not disturb habitats and historical sites and build any structure or dig any trenches.

Keep fires small and use only established fire rings, fire pans or mound fires. Always scatter cool ashes and try using lightweight stoves for cooking.

Respect the wildlife and the habitats of the animals. Do not feed them, as it alters their behavior and might endanger their health. Observe the wildlife only from a distance and avoid them altogether during sensitive times like hibernation or mating seasons.

Be considerate of other visitors and avoid loud sounds. Camp away from trails and always help out others.

Conclusion

With a tent, you can explore freely and enjoy a full night’s sleep after a long tiring hike. But because of so many factors to consider, it is difficult to choose one backpacking tent that will fulfill all your needs. However, the main factors that weigh in more than others when choosing the best tent are price, weight, space, fabric used and the type of tent itself (freestanding or non-freestanding).

A general rule you should keep in mind is that a tent designed for sheltering 1 person should be around 1 kilogram, while a 2-person tent should be around 1.5 kg. Usually, the height of whatever tent you choose should be around 35 inches, while the length should be at least 70 inches or more. Regarding fabrics, I would recommend SilNylon, unless you have the budget for Dyneema, which I have found to be the best fabric for tents. A PU-coated fabric will work only if you camp infrequently and only in pleasant weather.

My recommendation for people with a relatively higher budget will be the MSR Hubba Hubba, a great all-rounder tent for rough use and the best considering value for money. If you are looking for something cheap but also with decent value, you can consider the Rei Co-op Passage 2, which is roomy but quite heavy, and not designed for continuous use. For those of you looking for the very best lightweight tent which is easy to set up and quite durable, look no further than the Nemo Hornet. The tent is a little uncomfortable for 2 people staying inside for long durations, but it won't be a problem if it is used for sleeping only.

The real work will start after you have chosen and bought your tent, because you have to take care of it to get the most value and comfort. A few tips to keep in mind are to store your tent only when dry and always making sure that you set up in a place where there is nothing that might puncture the fabric. Also, you should always clean your tent and be on the lookout for any gaps in the seams. Even more importantly, follow the Leave No Trace principles so that you can camp safely without damaging the environment.

After blabbering on for so long, one more thing I would like to say is that no matter which tent you choose, remember that the fun of camping is not in the tent, but in the surroundings lying outside of it. Happy camping !